About New Start Clinics

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide quality and compassionate care to people struggling with addiction. Through our research-based program, we instill hope that long-term recovery is possible. Our purpose and passion is to empower the patient, the family, and community by helping the patient achieve recovery and optimal wellness of the mind, body, and spirit.

Under the direction of Dr. Eric Haeger and Hugh Thomas, ARNP, New Start Clinics brings over 18 years of experience in treating people with substance abuse disorders. Much like a specialist, New Start Clinics manages the patients’ addiction needs, while the primary care provider continues to provide for the primary care needs.

New Start Clinics uses the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) approach to treat patients with substance abuse disorders. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research shows that a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat these disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery.

MAT is primarily used for the treatment of addiction to opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers that contain opiates. The prescribed medication operates to normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, relieve physiological cravings, and normalize body functions without the negative effects of the abused drug. MAT programs are clinically driven and tailored to meet each patient’s needs

In 2013, an estimated 1.8 million people had an opioid use disorder related to prescription pain relievers, and about 517,000 had an opioid use disorder related to heroin use (https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/treatment). MAT has proven to be clinically effective and to significantly reduce the need for inpatient detoxification services for these individuals. MAT provides a more comprehensive, individually tailored program of medication and behavioral therapy. MAT also includes support services that address the needs of most patients.

The ultimate goal of MAT is full recovery, including the ability to live a self-directed life. This treatment approach has been shown to:

Improve patient survival

Increase retention in treatment

Decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders

Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment

Improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant